Teams from Torbay Council, SWISCo and Tor Bay Harbours have been working around the clock to clear up extensive damage caused by Storm Ingrid, which hit the area from Friday evening through to Sunday morning.
More than 17 tonnes of debris have already been removed as crews dealt with road closures, flooding, fallen trees, damaged walls, beach chalets, bins and fencing, as well as a suspected unexploded bomb that temporarily shut down parts of Torquay seafront. The item was later confirmed to be a diving canister.
From Friday onwards, sections of the seafront at Meadfoot, Livermead and Torquay were closed due to high winds, overtopping waves and a Met Office yellow weather warning. Paignton seafront was also closed after flooding along the promenade.
Torquay seafront remained shut until Sunday, initially due to high tide flooding and later because of the suspected ordnance. During this time, SWISCo diverted two fly-tipping trucks from routine duties to support the clean-up operation.
Leader of Torbay Council David Thomas thanked staff for their efforts and urged residents to stay safe as further storms approach. He said he was extremely grateful to teams from the Council, SWISCo and Tor Bay Harbours who worked hard over the weekend to deal with the fallout from Storm Ingrid, and added that preparations were being made for Storm Chandra and the amber rain warning. He also thanked residents for observing road closures and encouraged everyone to continue following local weather, traffic and travel advice.
Storm Ingrid caused significant damage at Meadfoot, particularly along Meadfoot Sea Road and the beach chalet area. Several beach chalets were damaged, with 18 badly affected. Parts of a wall collapsed, leaving unstable masonry and a significant drop where handrails were lost to the sea. Meadfoot Sea Road will reopen, but the car park will remain closed for the time being. Heras fencing is being installed to keep the public away from unsafe areas.
Public access will continue along the main promenade and down the ramp so beach chalet owners can access their properties and public rights of way are maintained. Structural inspections are scheduled once temporary boarding is removed. Two small sweepers and one large sweeper have been deployed to assist with the clean-up at Meadfoot Beach.
At the Kilmorie car park beach ramp at the Ilsham Road end, remaining storm-damaged structures pose a risk to public safety. Fencing is being installed across the top of the ramp and beach steps to prevent access beneath unstable concrete slabs.
Tor Bay Harbour Authority implemented heavy weather procedures ahead of the storm, increasing staffing levels and securing vessels. Despite this, Storm Ingrid brought Force 10 winds, gusting up to 60mph, and very high seas, causing significant disruption.
During the storm, two fishing vessels in Torquay Harbour broke free from their moorings but were successfully secured by harbour staff. Two commercial vessels sheltering in the bay lost their anchors, which are now being recovered. Two trailers and two 3.5-tonne steel piles were washed into the harbour basin from Haldon Pier. Some items have already been recovered, with the remainder due to be recovered by divers.
Initial estimates suggest damage to harbour infrastructure of around £500,000, including damage to harbour walls, pontoons and access ways. Detailed inspections and recovery work are ongoing, with safety-critical repairs prioritised.
Street cleansing teams worked throughout the weekend and early mornings, using large and small sweepers to clear sand and debris. Some bins were damaged, including one large bin housing that was destroyed and a solar compacting bin that was also damaged.
On Monday, Council Rangers inspected benches, utility boxes and play parks to ensure they were safe, and repaired damage at Monastery Woods caused by a fallen tree. The Neighbourhood Enforcement Team carried out regular checks of road closures at Torre Abbey and Meadfoot over the weekend and reported additional storm damage, including a fallen tree at Youngs Park.
Highways teams spent more than 26 hours over the weekend clearing debris, unblocking gullies by hand and responding to reports of fallen trees and damaged signage. Road closures were necessary to allow staff to work safely, and residents were reminded not to ignore closures while clean-up operations continue.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed and report issues where needed. Flooding incidents can be reported on 01803 550405, with emergencies requiring a call to 999. Fallen trees, debris and obstructions can be reported on 01803 701310 or via the SWISCo website. Updates on Storm Chandra are available via the Met Office, with road closure and safety information provided by Devon and Cornwall Police.
Clean-up operations are continuing across Torbay as teams work to restore affected areas and prepare for further severe weather.
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